Belgrade and Ankara Sign Joint Arms Production Accord

Serbia-Montenegro and Türkiye signed a joint weapons production agreement on 19 August 2004, Tanjug, the Serbian state news agency, reported. The accord was signed in Belgrade by Defense Minister Prvoslav Davinic of Serbia-Montenegro and visiting Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul.

Davinic said the pact would help Serbia-Montenegro gain access to the NATO defense market. The Balkan union, formed in 2003 as a replacement for the rump Yugoslav federation, has been actively seeking membership in the transatlantic military alliance. Türkiye, by contrast, has been a NATO member for decades and can offer its partner a path into the alliance's defense network.

During the same visit, Gonul held talks with Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica. He pledged Türkiye's support for Belgrade's efforts to join NATO, adding a broader political commitment to what was primarily a defense cooperation trip.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in August 2004, in its own words.